Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1887-08-19
THE FARMERS, PETIvIoy.
The state Grange Asks the Governor to
Assign Counsel in their Behalf


Assign Counsel in their Behalf
The petition of the Vermont Stnte
Grange to Governor Ormsbrr. AFTER re.
citing that the business of farming in
Vermont is suffering, and the population
of the rural districts diminishing, says:
The members of the grange believe that
this state of things has been largely caused
by unreasonable and discriminating rat es
of freight over the railways of the State,
and that much higher rates have been
charged to the people of Vermont than
to those OF other States and foreign coun-
tries. They believe that these high and
unreasonable rates have largely hindered
the development of manufactures in the
State. The main and almost the only
argument advanced by Henry Clay and
Horace Greedy why farmers should favor
high protective tariff was that thereby
manufactures would be established, and a
home market for farm products created.
We claim that high and oppressive rates
or freight have prevented manufactures
from coming into this State and that,
Wnen we seek the markets of New Hanp-
shire, Massachusetts and other manufac
turing States, we find farm products from
the Tar western States set down in those
markets at lower rates than we are com
pelled TO pay hence we are heavily taxed,
by hlgh tariff, without the compensat
ing benefits that are derived by other
States. 1t is claimed that Canada farm
products are prevented by the tariff from
competing with US on equal terms, but
The schedules of rates of the Boston and
Lowell and the Central Vermont railroads
show that by the edict of corporate power.
the laws of the United States are virtually
annulied by reducing the freight rates to
and from Canada, so that Canadian farm
ers can pay the United States duties, and
still ship their products to our seaboard
markets at lower rate than our Vermont
farmers.
We have for years sought relief through
the Legislature of the State, as has been
so successfully done in many other States
or the Union. A law creating a State rail
way commission was passed at the late
session of the Legislature, but that meas
ure has proved utterly inadequate to rem
edy the evils Of which we complain.
Under this state of things the passage
OF the Interstate commerce law by Con-
gress was hailed with great satisfaction as
the beginning of such governmental con
troll as should place Vermont more nearly
upon an equality with other States, but
we find by the publication of pleadings in
the case of the Boston and ALBANY VS..
Boston ana Lowell Central Vermont and
other railroads, set down for hearing at
Rutland on the first of September next
that the provisions of the Interstate com
merce law forbidding IA larger rate for a
short than long haul, are dsregarded
ana that Vermont people are still being
charged higher rates of freight than those
OF Canada, Michigan, Illinois and Wscon
sin, In violation of the laws of the land
The inter State commission has publicly
invited the suffering people of this state
to be present at the hearing above named
and present their grievances. As an or
| gan1Zation, the grange has no friends. 1t,
individual members are men of SINAI
means. There is no time to solicit anc
collect funds from other sources, and they
therefore, in pursuance of the aims ane
purposes of their organization, respectful
ly ask your eXcelency to exercise the dis
erection granted you in section 14S OF the
revised laws, aud assign as counsel, OF
behalf of the State, to assist the grange il
this case, the Hon. Kittredge Haskins o
Brattleboro, or such other person or per
sons us you shall deem best.